RIOT V - Much better than expected

First of all I must say that I was very skeptical. A new album RIOT without Mark Reale? IMPOSSIBLE !!! That would be like RAINBOW without Ritchie Blackmore! UNIMAGINABLE !!! And so I made up my mind to ignore this album until ... yes until I 2 songs on sample CD's in music magazines have heard. They have totally convinced me so I had to set the album but then I ...

I also found the stage with singer Mike DiMeo very good (especially INISHMORE and SONS OF SOCIETY), but when I think of RIOT, then I think of FIRE DOWN UNDER (Guy Speranza!), Thundersteel and THE PRIVILEGE OF POWER (Tony Moore !) !!! And right there is where the new album ...

Was the predecessor IMMORTAL SOUL already very good, so the new album absolutely outrageous has become! Production is bone dry, totally unfashionable, just lovely !!! The sound reminds me a bit of SONS OF SOCIETY, and I then loved (especially the drum sound). The new vocalist Todd Michael Hall resembles with its crystal-clear voice, from all previous RIOT-singers, most of Tony Moore. The compositions range on the entire album on a very high level (here have Van Stavern, Flyntz and Hall class work delivered), all songs are peppered with grandiose two-part guitar harmonies (Flyntz / Lee)! I wish to highlight the About song METAL WARRIOR, a super hymn of the extra class! The bulk of the song material is very fast, always worn by really fast twin lead guitars!
There are power / speed metal shells like RIDE HARD LIVE FREE, FALL FROM THE SKY, KILL TO SURVIVE and FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT (!!!), easy PRIEST-heavy Heavy-masher like BRING THE HAMMER DOWN and UNLEASH THE FIRE, and transmitting hardware
Rockers like RETURN OF THE OUTLAW (saucooles Reef!), Take Me Back (Hit !!!) and LAND OF THE RISING SUN.
Who gets the two, Mark Reale dedicated ballads, IMMORTAL and UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, no goose bumps, is either callous or long dead !!!

Overall, these are a very strong album, it covered every phase of the band Rock City today. Where the emphasis naturally lies with Thundersteel / THE PRIVILEGE OF POWER.
OK, the cover artwork and some song titles call with me already produced a slight smile, but no matter, somehow it all fits perfectly with the music. Where the artwork evokes also associations with former RIOT covers and thus already has its place.

Conclusion - For me UNLEASH THE FIRE is the best album since RIOT THE PRIVILEGE OF POWER, and I think that Mark Reale's heritage in very good hands. Primarily, I am delighted that with this class album a fantastic guitarist tribute is paid.

MARK REAL - RIP - UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN MY FRIEND